PEABODY – The 9-year-old West kids took on Melrose in game one of the Stan Brown Tournament finals at Moulton Field, winning 10-4.
“We asked the kids to do something a little different and they were able to adjust and look what happened. They put up runs and the kids did their job,” said Peabody West’s coach Dan Latorella. “That’s what we have been telling them all season, to just do your jobs.”
Nick Dattoli started off the top of the first with a double for Peabody West. Cam Segee also hit a single but both were left on.
Melrose came out swinging, Joe Weave hit a single before advancing to second on Alex Ogiba’s single. Weave then stole third before stealing home and Ogiba made his way to third as Melrose took an early 1-0 lead. Ogiba came home on Eamonn Judge’s fly ball making the score 2-0 in the bottom of the first.
Logan Dresser walked in the top of the second before Peabody before stealing second. Dresser then advanced to third on Matthew Varoudakis’s single. Varoudakis then stole second however both were left stranded.
“We told them even if you get out after we tell you to do something weird, to keep your head up because you gotta keep going,” said Latorella.
Sam Kirsh hit a double in the bottom of the second for Melrose before coming home on Michael Tierney’s double bringing the score to 3-0. However, Tierney was left on.
Peabody West came alive in the top of the third. Dattoli hit a single and then made his way to second when Bryce Ragusa was hit by the pitch. Segee hit a double during his at-bat, bringing Dattoli home and advancing Ragusa to third making the score 3-1. Logan Latorella also hit a double driving in Ragusa bringing the score to 3-2. Segee came home on Owen Skerry’s fly ball tying the game 3-3. Latorella then came home on Leo Pietrosanto’s fly ball allowing West to take the lead 4-3. With two outs on the board, Luca Mosca hit an inside-the-park homerun bringing the score to 5-3.
“The kids know what they’re doing,” said Latorella. “Can’t take anything away from Melrose, it’s a great team. They beat us the first time, so we came back and beat them here. That’s an awesome team over there and they’re the best team we’ve played.”
Weave hit a single in the bottom of the third and proceeded to steal second and third but was left stranded.
Luke Pelletier walked in at the top of the third but was left stranded at first.
Owen Pillsbury hit a single to lead off for Melrose in the bottom third. Pillsbury then advanced to second on Branden Bolge’s single. Krish then hit a single, loading the bases up for Drew Besegai. Besegai hit a single however Pillsbury was thrown out at home. Bolge then came home on Tierney’s fly ball making the score to 5-4.
Ragusa walked to start off the top of the fifth. Segee was then hit by the pitch moving Ragusa to second. Latorella also walked loading the bases. Pietrosanto hit a single driving in Ragusa extending Peabody West’s lead to 6-4 while Segee was thrown out at home. Mosca was then hit by the pitch loading the bases once again for Dresser. Dresser then walked bringing in Latorella making the score 7-4. Varoudakis and Pelletier also walked bringing in Pietrosanto and Mosca making the score to 9-4 in the top of the fifth.
“We had a fake bunt strategy in the fifth inning that worked pretty well. The idea is to get them to move the infield around because when the kids do swing away the infield’s uncomfortable,” said Latorella. “It opens up a spot for us to hit.”
Judge walked in the bottom of the fifth for Melrose but was left stranded at first.
Ragusa hit a single in the top of the sixth before advancing to second on Segee’s single. Ragusa then came home on Skerry’s double bringing the score to 10-4. Pietrosanto walked loading the bases yet again for Peabody West. However, Segee, Skerry, and Pietrosanto were all left stranded.
Pillsbury hit a single but was caught advancing to second on Bogle’s single. Bogle then moves to second on Kirsh’s hit but was left on at the end of the game with the final score being 10-4.
“We’ve been doing the same thing all summer, we get here, we play, and then we can’t get them off the baseball field after practice,” said Latorella. “They love to play and they get out there and have fun. And that’s what they’re doing, they’re showing up to have fun.”
Maddi Filip can be reached at [email protected].
